Test Systems Software Engineer

About the Company

Panthalassa is a renewable energy and ocean technology company committed to rapidly developing and deploying technologies that will ensure a sustainable future for Earth by unlocking the vast energy potential of its oceans. Our mission is to capture civilizational levels of ultra-low-cost renewable energy for applications including computing and affordable renewable fuels delivered to shore.

We are headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and operate as a public benefit corporation backed by leading venture capitalists, philanthropic investors, and university endowments. Our team includes individuals with experience at SpaceX, Tesla, Apple, Blue Origin, the U.S. military, and leading research universities. We operate as an idea meritocracy—where the best ideas win—and we're building the most capable engineering and operations team on the planet.

About the Job

We are seeking an experienced Test Systems Software Engineer to design and implement software for large-scale Hardware-in-the-Loop (HITL) test systems. This role requires architect-level expertise in LabVIEW and experience building sophisticated test automation systems that control complex hardware and manage large datasets.

As a Test Systems Software Engineer, you will architect the software backbone of our test infrastructure, creating systems that integrate hardware control, data acquisition, and real-time analysis. You will work closely with our electrical, mechanical, and controls engineers to build comprehensive test environments that push the boundaries of power generation technology. This is a hands-on role where you will both design scalable architectures and troubleshoot hardware interfaces alongside world-class engineers and technicians.

You will be responsible for the complete software lifecycle of test systems—from architecture design through deployment and long-term maintenance. This includes building CI/CD pipelines, designing database schemas, and creating visualization systems that enable breakthrough energy technology development.

Responsibilities

- Design and implement software controlling large-scale test rigs for hydraulic turbines, powertrains, and power electronics systems.

- Architect LabVIEW applications for electro-mechanical and hardware in the loop test systems.

- Integrate software systems with electrical and mechanical hardware across cross-disciplinary projects.

- Develop data acquisition and analysis systems with real-time processing capabilities.

- Design schemas and create visualizations using relational and time-series databases.

- Implement hardware communication protocols and interfaces.

- Build test sequences and automation scripts for hardware interaction.

- Troubleshoot laboratory hardware including oscilloscopes, DMMs, power supplies, electronic loads, and VFDs.

- Implement unit testing frameworks and automated validation systems.

- Establish git flow and version control processes for test software development.

- Create and maintain documentation for software architectures and test procedures.

Required Qualifications

- Bachelor's degree in Physics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field.

- 8–15+ years of experience in test software development and hardware automation.

- Certified LabVIEW Developer (CLD) or Certified LabVIEW Architect (CLA) level expertise.

- Demonstrated experience with LabVIEW OOP, Actor Framework, and DQMH.

- Experience communicating with laboratory instruments (oscilloscopes, DMMs, power meters, DAQ cards).

- Proficiency with hardware interface protocols (HTTP REST, MQTT, Modbus TCP, GPIB).

- Experience with relational and time-series databases and visualization tools.

- Python programming skills for hardware interface and test automation.

- Hands-on experience with industrial controls hardware including VFDs and PLCs.

- Experience with git flow, unit testing frameworks, and software validation methodologies.

- Strong troubleshooting skills for both software and hardware integration.

- Excellent communication skills for cross-functional collaboration.

Desired Qualifications

- Advanced degree in Physics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field.

- Knowledge of real-time systems and deterministic software design.

- Experience with NI RT hardware platforms such as cRIO.

- Familiarity with VISA, Serial, HTTP REST, MQTT, GPIB, and Modbus communication.

- Experience with additional programming languages (Python, Rust).

- Experience with databases such as TimescaleDB, ClickHouse, InfluxDB, and Grafana visualization.

- Experience building CI/CD pipelines in GitLab or similar platforms.

- Experience with Docker and containerization.

- Background in power generation, renewable energy, or heavy industrial testing.

- Experience with embedded systems and microcontroller interfaces.

- Familiarity with cybersecurity practices for industrial control systems.

- Experience with cloud-based storage and analytics platforms.

- Knowledge of signal processing and filtering techniques.

- Experience mentoring junior software engineers and leading technical teams.

The above qualifications are desired, not required. We encourage you to apply if you are a strong candidate with only some of the desired skills and experience listed.

Additional Requirements

- Occasional extended hours or weekend work to support key milestones.

- Strong preference for candidates based in Portland, OR.

Compensation and Benefits

If hired for this full-time role, you will receive:

- Cash compensation of $155,000–$225,000.

- Equity in the company. We're all owners and if we're successful, this equity should be far and away the most valuable component of your compensation.

- A benefits package that helps you take care of yourself and your family, including:

- Flexible paid time off

- Health insurance (the company pays 100% of gold level PPO plan for full time employees, their partners, and dependents)

- Dental insurance (the company pays 33% for full time employees and 100% for their partners and dependents)

- Vision insurance (the company pays 100% for full time employees, their partners, and dependents)

- Disability insurance (the company pays 100% for a policy to provide long term financial support if you become disabled)

- Ability to contribute to tax-advantaged accounts, including 401(k), health FSA, and dependent care FSA

- Relocation assistance to facilitate your move to Portland (if needed).

Location

This is an onsite position. Our offices, lab and shop, are located in Portland, Oregon.

Candidates must have the legal right to work in the United States. We are unable to provide new visa sponsorship for this role; however, we may consider H-1B transfer applications from exceptional candidates.